Helen Joyce is a journalist at "The Economist" and is the author of the book "Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality." During our conversation, Helen discusses the pernicious effects of the gender identity movement: the sterilization of children, the cultural incentives that encourage kids to question their sex, the regret that many with gender dysphoria have after sex reassignment surgery, that the vast majority of people who experience gender dysphoria are gay, rather than trans, why female-only spaces matter to women, and the public shaming of and attempts to silence those who disagree with the activist ideology.‌‌

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Show notes

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(00:00) Intro

(03:06) What led Helen into writing her book, "Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality"

(04:06) Helen on how she dealt with resistance to asking questions as a journalist

(07:14) How Helen feels about pushbacks to open journalism and how she believes we should fight it

(09:51) What are the consequences of changing a society where gender is a matter of choice, rather than a matter of biology?

(17:12) Helen talks about her research for her book

(18:10) Understanding gender dysphoria

(19:54) The possible reasons why kids feel they don’t belong to their gender

(22:01) Helen cites the example of a female who underwent a full medical procedure and hysterectomy to become male - only to later realize that she was lesbian

(28:52) Why most gender non-conforming children are likely to be gay

(34:04) What happens when children are given puberty blockers?

(40:16) The consequences of California allowing its prison inmates to decide their gender

(45:37) Helen talks about gender literature in different countries

(46:52) What is transphobia?

(48:51) Why it’s essential to be clear about biological reality for child safeguarding

(52:59) What is the right way to think about matters of gender?

(01:05:40) Helen explains thought control, thought termination, self-censorship

(01:08:42) The narrative of progress is bringing marginalized groups in from the cold - and how this is unlike other social justice movements

(01:13:04) Helen’s three bits of advice for journalists who are committed to open discussion and open debate

(01:14:13) Why your employer is your point of weakness when you’re a journalist or an academic

(01:19:13) Helen talks about her friend and researcher Maya Forstater, who lost her job due to social media backlash

(01:23:01) Where Helen thinks we are in terms of the policing of conversations and dialogue

(01:32:03) What is free speech, according to Helen?

(01:34:37) Writers, thinkers, public intellectuals, and groups who believe in an open exchange of ideas and information